The development of arrhythmia, or heart rhythm disorders, is partly due to the mutation of a protein called calmodulin, according to a study.
- Heart rhythm disturbances could be due to the mutation of a protein called calmodulin.
- This disrupts the movement of molecules charged with sodium and calcium in and out of heart muscle cells.
- This discovery could eventually lead to the development of new treatments.
Too fast, too slow or both at the same time… When the heartbeat is not regular, we speak of heart rhythm disorders or cardiac arrhythmia. When the heart beats too fast, more than 100 beats per minute, we speak of tachycardia according to the French Federation of Cardiology.
Heart rhythm disorders are thought to be due to a protein
Conversely, when the heart rate is too slow, less than 50 beats per minute, we speak of bradycardia. Finally, when the beat is irregular without being too slow or too fast, it is called arrhythmia.
There are different risk factors for cardiac arrhythmias: age (the prevalence increases with age), the sequelae of a myocardial infarction, certain diseases such as cholesterol affecting the coronary arteries which bring oxygen to the heart muscles, stress, poor functioning of the heart valves, excessive consumption of stimulating substances, certain respiratory diseases, etc. “Often, a precise cause cannot be identified and we then speak of “idiopathic” heart rhythm disorders.specifies the Vidal.
But American researchers may have found a new reason that could explain the development of heart rhythm disorders. It is a protein called calmodulin. Their work has been published in the journal Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Arrhythmia: this discovery may help to cure it
Calmodulin is a protein that is found in all cell types, according to themedical academy. In the heart, calmodulin is essential. It promotes a healthy heartbeat because it helps regulate the movement of sodium and calcium-laden molecules in and out of heart muscle cells. This exchange contributes to the beating of the heart and a regular heartbeat.
During their study, the scientists relied on the conclusions of previous work which showed that mutations in calmodulin could cause serious heart rhythm disorders. But they specifically studied a mutated form of calmodulin called D96V-CaM. Their goal was to understand how this promotes the development of arrhythmias.
As a result, this mutated form of calmodulin, D96V-CaM, disrupted the movement of molecules charged with sodium and calcium in and out of heart muscle cells. Thus, the heartbeat became irregular and thus the patients suffered from arrhythmia. Ultimately, the researchers hope that this discovery will allow them to develop new curative and preventive treatments for cardiac arrhythmias.
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